Thanksgiving is 12 days away. This year MP and I will be feasting in Montana.

Being away from our children, girls, and the countdown to dinner is bittersweet—it is our family’s favorite holiday.

Our menu is steadfast—no messing around with new sides; putting sausage, nuts or dried fruit in the dressing.

Mutiny is a strong word.

As the years pass by, a side dish or dessert may get a new name or a slight upgrade but the essence of the meal remains true to our tradition.

Poppy’s Roast Turkey

Gold Coast Stuffing

Holiday Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Sweet Potatoes Madelynne

Dolly Cabbages

Cole Barrett Slaw

Green Bean Casserole

Orange Cranberry Sauce

Creamed Corn Cornbread

Maple Pumpkin Pie

Apple Crumb Pie

Mom’s Mom’s Lemon Meringue Pie

Each Thanksgiving for over 40 years MP debones the turkey. This means the carcass is removed first and simmers in the stockpot with celery, carrots, and onions…blessed assurance of copious amounts of gravy.

The unfortunate bird looks as if it was run over—but gets puffed up-- good as new.

The doctored Tom is stuffed with a simple sour dough bread dressing and sent outside to roast on our grill.

Fortunately there are many fine days during the holidays to create new savory sides and sweets galore!

Into a large bowl, cut bread into 1 inch pieces and let stand several hours or overnight to dry.

Melt butter in a large skillet, sauté onions, celery, parsley and sage in butter with salt and pepper and 2 tablespoons poultry seasoning until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.

I meet many faithful Christians who, in spite of their faith, are deeply disappointed in how their lives have turned out. Sometimes it is simply a matter of how they experience aging, which they take to mean they no longer have a future. But often, due to circumstances or wrongful decisions and actions by others, what they hoped to accomplish in life they did not.

They painfully puzzle over what they may have done wrong, or whether God has really been with them. Much of the distress of these good people comes from failure to realize that their life lies—before them. That they are coming to the end of their present life, life “in the flesh,” is of little significance.

What is of significance is the kind of person they have become. Circumstances and other people are not in control of an individual’s character or of the life that lies endlessly before us in-- the Kingdom of God.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”

Cook the rice according to the package directions. Reserve and keep warm.

Place the tomatoes in a large iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the tomatoes are tender and the skins are charred in spots, about 10 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Reduce heat to medium and add the oil. Add chopped garlic and red pepper; sauté quickly without browning garlic. Deglaze the pan with the stock; add chard, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper to the skillet. Cook, tossing, until the chard wilts and stock is absorbed, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the chickpeas; toss until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.

Divide the rice between 4 bowls. Place chard mixture on rice and top with tomatoes. Drizzle with vinegar.